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"H-how could this be?!"
Two Kakushi members followed Naruto and Tanjirō into Swordsmith Village and immediately turned pale at the sight before them.
The village was littered with incomplete corpses. Blood soaked the ground, severed limbs scattered everywhere—a scene straight out of hell.
"It's demons…"
Naruto's face was so grim it seemed ready to drip water. He scanned the village and spoke in a cold voice.
"This place was attacked by demons, and it happened not long ago."
"Damn it!"
Kamado Tanjirō stared at the devastation, his fists clenched in self-reproach.
"If only we had arrived sooner!"
"Oh my, oh my—are there more people coming to their deaths?"
A playful voice echoed through the ruined village.
Naruto and the others turned sharply.
Standing ahead was a figure with shoulder-length black hair, three large yellow squares and three smaller ones on its cheeks, dressed in a long black coat. It looked at them with clear amusement.
In its eyes were carved the characters Lower Moon and One.
Lower Moon One — Enmu.
"Did you do this?"
Kamado Tanjirō drew his temporarily issued standard Nichirin Blade, fury burning in his eyes.
"Demon—did you kill everyone here?!"
"No, I didn't!~"
Enmu smiled delightedly.
"Though I'd love to eat everyone myself, those two adults wouldn't allow it…"
Pffft!
Enmu's words cut off abruptly.
Its expression froze, and its head slowly slid from its neck.
"H—how… is this possible?!"
Enmu's severed head first showed confusion, then disbelief, and finally deep unwillingness before it dissipated into black smoke.
"No need to waste words with it, Tanjirō."
Naruto stood beside Enmu's corpse, holding a standard Nichirin Blade, his voice cold.
"There's no need to ask for the truth. The answer is obvious. What we need to do now is kill all the demons here and avenge the dead."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the shadows.
"Enmu was taken out in a single strike…?"
Lower Moon Two, Rokuro, stared at Naruto in shock, his expression grim.
Enmu's rank was higher than his, yet he had been decapitated instantly.
"Is he… a Hashira?"
Lower Moon Three, Wakuraba, swallowed nervously, fear creeping into his eyes as he looked at Naruto.
"Are we… going to fight him?"
Behind them, Lower Moon Six, Kamanue, was already retreating quietly.
From Naruto, he felt an overwhelming sense of death.
"Hm?"
Naruto had intended to finish them off, but suddenly sensed something. His expression shifted.
"Tanjirō," he said calmly, "there are still people alive in the village. I'll go check. These Lower Moons are yours."
Without waiting for a response, Naruto vanished, dashing toward the rear of the village.
"I—!"
Tanjirō opened his mouth, wanting to say he couldn't handle three Lower Moons alone—but Naruto was already gone.
"…?"
The three Lower Moons froze.
After exchanging glances, they all turned their attention to Kamado Tanjirō.
Naruto frightened them—but the place he rushed toward held two Upper Moons.No matter how strong Naruto was, they believed he would die there.
As for Kamado Tanjirō—
He looked manageable.
"I can do this… I can do this!"
Tanjirō took a deep breath, then turned to the two Kakushi behind him.
"I can't guarantee your safety. Please leave—now!"
"Yes!"
The Kakushi didn't hesitate. They turned and fled immediately.
"Trying to run?"
Kamanue sneered, moving to pursue—only to see a wooden box hurtling toward him.
"What is—"
Bang!
Kamanue punched the box apart.
From it flew a figure that kicked him away in one clean motion.
"That's… a demon?!"
Rokuro and Wakuraba stared in disbelief.
Kamado Nezuko landed between Tanjirō and the demons.
"Why would a demon protect humans…?!"
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
Seizing the moment, Tanjirō attacked Rokuro and Wakuraba—but they dodged easily.
"Tch!"
Kamanue recovered, venomous eyes locking onto Nezuko.
"Traitor! I'll tear you apart!"
He lunged toward her.
Rokuro and Wakuraba moved at the same time—attacking Tanjirō.
Elsewhere — Swordsmith Village, Rear Caverns
Naruto raced like a violent gale through the village, quickly reaching a hidden cave.
Outside the entrance stood a figure with six arms, each gripping a Nichirin Blade.
It was a mechanical puppet.
The puppet was locked in combat with a grotesque demon emerging from a porcelain vessel.
"An automaton…?"
Naruto instantly recognized it.
The demon assaulting it was unmistakable.
Upper Moon Five — Gyokko.
The six-armed puppet was powerful, but clearly outmatched. Its body was damaged in multiple places, barely holding on.
Behind it, inside the cave, were the surviving swordsmiths.
Naruto didn't hesitate.
"Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"
He arrived first—his attack followed.
Gyokko was sent flying, spinning wind blades shredding half of his body apart.
"What—who are you?!"
Gyokko regenerated rapidly, eyes filled with shock and caution.
Naruto glanced at his eyes.
"Upper Moon Five…"
Then—
He felt it.
Another presence.
Stronger.
Much stronger.
From deeper within the shadows, a trembling aura watched him.
Upper Moon Four — Hantengu.
"…Two Upper Moons."
Naruto tightened his grip on the blade. A cold smile crept onto his face.
"Perfect."
"One wouldn't have been enough to calm my rage anyway."